(INDIANAPOLIS) - Recently, state lawmakers met at the Statehouse for Organization Day, which ceremonially marks the start of the 2018 legislative session. While session doesn't officially begin until January, legislators used this time to meet with staff and colleagues from the House and the Senate to discuss many of the topics that could be considered in the coming months.

One of the top priorities of the General Assembly is to continue combating Indiana's opioid epidemic. In 2016, nearly 64,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses, and half of those deaths were opioid related. In our state alone, opioid overdose deaths rose 52 percent between 2015 and 2016, and have more than doubled over the last three years. As your representative, I'm committed to improving the quality of life and overall health of all Hoosiers, and I look forward to working with fellow lawmakers to tackle this serious issue.

Along with discussing legislative topics, House members on Organization Day worked to raise awareness for a philanthropic organization. This session, the House is partnering with the Indiana Association of Resources and Child Advocacy and its Institute for Excellence for a bipartisan philanthropy project assisting foster families throughout the state. IARCA is an association of nearly 90 county-level agencies that care about children and families, working to ensure that every child lives in a stable home. Foster families play an essential role in caring for thousands of Hoosier children every single day.

The need for foster and foster-to-adopt families in our state is at an all-time high, and House members want to raise awareness about this shortage and the children looking for safe, loving homes.

Through our partnership with IARCA, we're holding a donation drive to support foster families and benefit Hoosier children in Indiana's foster care system. Supplies like diaper bags, blankets, bottles and booties will be collected and delivered to foster families caring for infants and toddlers across the state. There are many ways to help foster children, including adoption, becoming a foster parent and supporting foster families. To learn more about how to get involved and help children in need, visit www.fosterhopeindiana.org.

To contact Davisson with questions or input at (317) 232-9600 or by email at h73@iga.in.gov. Davisson appreciate hearing from you in order to better represent the district. Stay up-to-date with the work being done at the Statehouse by signing up to receive my email updates at .